Aargh I can't keep up. I promise to do better on the next thread. I have read everyone's posts but am too tired to keep track so I'm going to issue a generic HUG to everyone, whether it's going pear-shaped or swimmingly.

Had a lunch y'day with a colleague who is on mat leave too, with her first baby, and chatting about things she mentioned a very helpful website she had stumbled across... She's a nethun! Haha.

Inlaws have come up this arvo to take DD out so am rescued from all day on own being outnumbered, so DS and I snuggled about to watch Love Actually (blub fest ahoy!). I sometimes feel, as he is less demanding than DD, like I just feed him and pop him down so I can do something with DD, so nice to give him some actual attention.

shelly Again you've made me almost wet myself with the non crying baby!!!

Well dh had the day off so we could have a jama day and watch tv and just spend time together - I go upstairs to veg and watch tv while Dottie feeds/sleeps and he sits downstairs for 5 hours on the pc!!!! He's a frighin IT manager???!!!! Grrrrrr and the washing up is still there!!! Hello wall how are you today???

Today's feeds seem to be taking 20 mins instead of the usual hour??? I'm liking it but also worrying she's not having as much as usual!!!

garden I'm a twin and my mum always said that she thought it was easier to have twins than a baby and a toddler - she said that at least when you're feeding one baby you knew the other was in her cot, but with a baby and a toddler you could be feeding the baby and the toddler is in the next room putting the kitten in the washing machine / emptying a bag of flour onto the lounge floor / cleaning the windows with sudocrem* I'm not sure I agree with her, but it's an interesting point of view!

I'm having a day where I'm hating breastfeeding today. I know in lucky I can. It's just constant and so hard. 30min break yesterday and an hour's break today. Am finding myself wishing it was Feb already, though I'm starting to doubt it will be easier by then!

Pikz you would cope. You would have no choice . Although, I am sometimes tempted to sell both one on Ebay.

Thanks for the sympathy Madam

Byzoan thanks for the tips. I will do what I can to keep them stimulated during awake periods.

What I don't get is how do people who have toddlers and small kids function normally from day to day? It is fine if DP and I don't eat but you couldn't do that if you had other kiddies. The mind boggles.

pixies you are an over achiever. DP commented this morning whilst he'd been up for most of the night feeds to give me a break that he loves Luc so much but doesn't think he could cope with two at once!

Today is a day for feeding and sleeping. (although we've escaped the chaos of our house to have lunch at my mums!) It took us 2 hours to get ready to leave after M vommed all over all 3 of us .

Still, feeding every 3 hours or less now. Not going to bother expressing again for a few days as we were only doing it so dp could give her a night feed - stupid mummy didnt realise 6-8 hour breaks would effect her milk supply . Hopefully a few days of mass mummy-only feeding will boost it again - I can see why so many people give up around now, it's bloody hard work!

Glad things are looking up for you Detective. I hope you kicked your DH and DS's arses into gear a little bit. I never understood the stat that the most important element for successful BFing is the support of your partner - but now as a resident of the couch I understand it perfectly. I guess now your DH's having to do the night feeds it might make him reflect that perhaps he should have helped more when you were BFing!

I need to express some milk today as we're going out to the Christmas market tomorrow and don't fancy sitting in the middle of Manchester with the lollies out, brrrrrrr.......

Well hubby ended up changing the bed after Tommy shit all over my side after his bath, right through the towel and all over me. Happy days

Talking of slow cookers, I use mine every day and have for the last couple of years. You can get veg packs at supermarkets so soup is a staple food in our house and there is always a bowl knocking about.

I have piles too, but think they are on the inside. Lots of blood when I poo, have already had 2 today , it bloody hurt, like giving birth to a brown lumpy smelly food baby. At least it doesn't cry...........

kyz I went to the GP 5 times in 7 days when N was first ill! I'm sure they had me down as a paranoid mother but I can live with that and we were eventually admitted for 4 days so I wasn't so paranoid after all! if you're worried, just go, it can't hurt.

detective glad you're feeling better. I don't think I had many stitches at all but the relief when the midwife removed them was instant!

garden hope you're ok. Your doing a great job. Colic is the work of the devil

I managed to express 2oz this morning, which sounds pathetic but is pretty good for me! I have an interview tomorrow so I need a back up bottle in case N needs a feed while I'm in there. I have another 4 oz that has taken me days to collect!

Feeling somewhat human today - although I have 3 weeks of exhaustion to recover from!

DP did the middle of the night feed, well, 2 of them at 3.40 and 5.15. I know this because I had to hit him repeatedly with the backdrop of a screeching baby. I went to bed t 7.30, and I did the 10.30 feed - which took til just after midnight by the time he was fed, changed, and cuddled til he settled. So I've had a couple of 3 hour blocks of sleep.

Not so sure about the formula though, he is a bit sicky with it, but its early days, so will persevere til the end of the tub and see how he goes. Using Cow & Gate with Avent bottles. Any change can upset the gut, so we'll just be doing a mountain of washing for now . Muslins ain't containing his offerings! Even the addition of a bib does nothing for us!

Also, today, I have a plugged duct. Guess I should have expected it really. I have expressed, with every other feed, although it was probably a long time over night as I decided the 2 feeds in the night were technically one feed . Going to express 6 hourly today, then 8 hourly tomorrow and use hot flannels, and massage.

DP apologised for his pathetic dickhead of a comment the other night. He now has some understanding of tired.

Midwife has been out and discharged us this morning. She has also pulled out a load of stitches from my fanjo! It is actually healing now, but turned out someone was a little over eager with the suture materiel and it just hadn't dissolved. Little sore now as got a small blade nick, but hopefully will feel better now! There is still one bugger in there, that I have to have a fiddle with later!!!

Ok daisy bad line to use on you but am so going to use the black death line next time man flu strikes - sorry to hear you're not well - get well soon - you too horsey!

Pass I echo the others who have said silent reflux - cows milk intolerance is a classic cause so it might need a change in formula - my niece has it triggered by cows milk and soy - my sis is BFing so has had to cut both from her diet - no culpas, chocolate or chinese!!!!! She's lost 3 stone!

Kyz hope your lo is better soon. May be try feeding more often for shorter periods? H and l both have colds and coughs. l put him in his bouncy chair in the bathroom and have a shower with the cubicle door open which gets the room nice and steamy and helps his breathing.

Mm just a random thought, but do you need to express at the mo. lf worrying about the amounts is stressful you could just focus on feeding perhaps (l say this as someone who can never usually be bothered expressing though).

Fed up with Dh today. He is good with major illness ~ was amazing when l had pre~eclampsia~ but rubbish with more minor complaints. Last night l got its. only a cold, not the black death and noot even the offer of a cuppa. Yes, it is just a cold but when youre bf, sleep deprived and hormonal you still need some tlc!

kyz - cross post. Ds appetite dropped off with his cold. Along with a lot more sick. He was just shifting mucus. As such he gained but not as much. I took him to the gp and am pleased I did as while they gave him nothing he had a good check up and we were told what to look out for if it was going to get worse.

Saline drops of spray really help.

Ds is loads better now. Eating huge amounts!!! So I think making up for what he lost in the 10 days he was struggling.

pass hope all ok if she continues and you get nothing from your gp then go to a&e. A lady a baby group took hers there and has been sorted many times (baby not gaining weight etc) turns out he has a cow milk intolerance.

I have an ear infection. Very very dizzy spells. I'm never bloody ill, this year I've had chest infection, norovirus now this?! Dr said run down, don't underestimate the effect of pregnancy etc etc.

Ds had his first train journey yesterday!! We went to a german Christmas Market. Was nice just very very cold!! Apart from lunch and drink we bought nothing!! Still got a few more gifts to get but pretty sorted.

Also thanks to everyone for your comments about my circumstances with feeding. Much appreciated. Detective - glad you've made a decision. Hope the boys weren't too shocked yesterday!!

Mm listen to yw!!

Nervous hugs about your dog. My two Curlies have been great so far. There were problems with the two of them fighting but they're friends again now. Think the baby meant a re ordering in the house and big dog was making sure puppy dog knew who the boss was . Tits hope your son is ok.

Sorry to anyone else I've missed!!!

Oh winding when he screams I know its trapped wind. I wind him quite a bit through feeds.

Kysordz: try clearing his nose with saline drops before each feed to help him feed better. Keep an eye on hos temperature, and have him sleep at an angle with his head higher. If at any time you worry, get him checked out. He's fussy when he feeds as breathing is harder with a bunged up nose.